Cover fastener



March 29, 1932f Y B, MOREY 1,851,541

@VER FASTENEB Fild March 12, l1936 Armi/riff'.

. sumer, and

Patented Mar. Z9, 1932 d UNIED STATES .PA-TENT oFFlcE,

BURROWS MOREY, 0F `BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR T0 LARKIN COMPANY, INC., OF

BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION i l.

COVER FASTENEB,

Application med March 12, i930. semina. 435,336.

. This invention relates to retainers or fastening means for securing covers or heads on the bodies of receptacles to prevent accidental dislodging of the covers during shipment or handling of the receptacles.

At the present time, many materials are sold in metal cans, drums and other containers which are provided with removable covers or closures, so that after the container ,has been opened by the user, the cover or closure can be replaced to form a tight seal, such type of container being particularly desirable for use in connection with materials, which may not all be used at one time by the conwhich must be sealed to prevent deterioration of the goods by .excessive contact with air.

The objects of this invention are to provide a retainer for container covers, which acts positively to retain the cover in place on the container body even dling of the container, and which can be easily removed lien the container is to-be opened; also to provide a co-ver retainer of this type,

- which is so constructed that much less force is necessary to remove the retainer at will for opening the container than would be required to accidentallyremove the retainer; also to provide a retainer ofthis kind, which is so arranged relatively to the cover that the leverage acting on the retainer by the cover to remove Jdieretainer is much less than the leverage which results when the retainer is removed by the user; `also to provide a cover retainer which is deformed at a portion thereof in such a manner that the removal of the retainer at will to open the container is facilitated, without inateriall 1 impairing the strength of the retainer to hold the cover against accidental displacement; also to provide cover retainers which can be readily broken by the user to remove the cover, but which offer a much greater resistance against breakage due to pressure exerted by the cover on the retainer; also to provide a retainer for during severe mishana cover which is so formed that the material of the retainer offers greaterV resistance against breakage to the cover than to a per-` son breaking the same at will; and also to improve the construction of cover retainers in other respects hereinafterspeciiied; In the accompanying drawings :Y` Fig. l isa top plan view of a container body and cover having retainers embodying this invention applied thereto; i

Fig. 2 isa similar view thereof, rwith'the retainers and cover removed; 'l Fig.V4 3 is va fragmentary, transversesectional elevation thereof, on` line 3-3, Fig. l;

Fig. 4' is a fragmentary t'op plan view on an enlarged scale showing a cover retaining device being removed;

Fig. 5y is a top plan view of a container and cover having a cover retaining member of modiiied construction applied thereto; and i y i Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectionalelevation on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

A represents the body of a container, and B the cover or closure therefor. The container body and cover may have cooperating parts of any suitable or desired form to make aseal between tlie cover and the-body. In the particular embodiment 'of the invention illustrated, the container body is provided at its upper end with an inwardly and down-l wardly extending portion or flange 10 terminating at its inner periphery in a sealing flange l1, which cooperates withl a corresponding upwardly extending part 12 of the cover. turned outwardly as indicated v,at 14 to rest upon the liange 10. A seal of this kindbetween the cover and the container body provides only single friction surfaces on the cover and the body, which cooperate to hold the cover on the body, and also forms Va liquid tight seal therewith. It will be" understood, however, that this invention does not concern itself with the structure of the onn- The outer edge of the cover may be Vtainer or its cover or closure, nor with the type of seal employed, nor with the manner Vin which the container body and top are formed to provide a seal, it being preferable, although not necessary, that the cover have a depressed portion 15 therein, as illustrated. My inventionY can be used with containers of other types than the one illustrated, or for holding against movement any two parts movable relatively to each other in one direction.-

In accordance with my invention,` one or more retaining members are secured tol the containerbody, after the cover is putin place` thereon, these retainingmembers-being pref.-

erably made of metal, for eXan'1ple,-of -a suitable rod or wire, and extend over the cover in such apmanner as to prevent the'moving p 0f the cover out of its seating position. Pref-v erably, though not necessarily, the wire retain-ingv member or members aref deformed or weakenedl at` a portion thereof near the Y endwhich is secured tothe body, the deforming being done by notching or flattening the Wire' or rod near the point at which it is secured to the body in such a manner that i the deformation will render it easy to move the retainingmember out VYof Vits holding `position, for example, by breaking the retaining memberat the deformed portion by movement of'thefree or unsecured part of the retainer in a direction other than that in which the cover facts against the 4retaining member. It is, however, not necessary in allcases to weakenor deform a portion of the retaining .niember, aswill hereinafter be Y eX- plained. e Y Y lhe principles which constitute tlre subject mat ter of my invention may be applied in different embodiments or formsfonly two I, such embodiments ofr my invention being a5 ing-substantially at right angles tothe part shown.' In the particularform shownrin Figs. 1 to el, two or more retainingmeinbers are employed,l each Aretaining member including a short length of rodor wirehaving onev end v1 7 rigidly secured in any, desired manner to the container: body adjacent to the cover. In the construction illust ated, the end 17 of the'retaining member is welded, for example, by spot welding, to the in- Wardly ,extendingflange 10 of the body. Immediately adjacent to the end 17, Vthe retafn ing member is deformed in any desired manner, for example, vby means ofa notch Vor notches 18 in theretaining member,-lwhich notches extend in an upright direction.- Beyondthe not-ches, the retaining member is Y bent to provide an inwardly extendingportion V1.9 which pressesagainst the Youter edge of the cover, kfor example, against the flange 14 .of .the.cover, in the construction shown, and beyondthepart 19, the retaining member haslever portion 20,.which may be of any suitable-or desired form, that shown extent,-

19 and being first-,bent downwardly, as shown at 21, so that the greater portion of the lever part Q0 of the retaining member 'lies in the recessed part 15 of the cover and near the ujiwardly extending flange 12 thereof. Both of the retainino members shown in Figs. 1-

to 4 are of the same shape. Y

Tt will be obvious from the construction described that, if the outer end of the lever portion 20 of the retaining member be moved in a direction substantially parallel .to the cover and toward the center` ofthe cover, as

indicated in e, the deformed or notched portion 18 of the retaining member will offer very little resistanceto such movement of tno lever portionQO, and will break at theA deformed portion 18after one or more such nlovements ofthe retaining member. When l of ,tl'ierctaining members have been thus n theremoval'of the cover can be y,accomplshcd by` prying it upwardly I nner, the kends 17 of the retaini g ofthecoveiu vSince the ons in thedeformed porctaining inembersV entend 1n notches or d ionsjlof t an una, direction, these deformed portons will. offer a ninch greater resistance to 4 .ice such movement would be in a dir'tion to bend the deformed portion-of the 1 inadirection parallel toitsgreatestl dimension. vIt is even possible, by pressing the depressions 18 into the retainer, to increase the vertical dimension of the deformed portion of the retainer, and thus causethis deformed portion to offer greater resistance to displacementof the cover than other. parts of the retainer. Furthermorathe force eX- erted by theV cover itself in a direction to remove thecover from its sealing position acts on the parte'l) in closeproximity to the deformed portion `18, so that very little leverage is errerted by the cover in a direction to break the retainer. On the other hand,'when rforce effectively and securely hold the cover in place, `without placing any difliculty in the way of the removal of the retaining members .bv a person `wishing to` .open the contairer.V

The object of the deformed portion ldismamly to facilitate the breaking of the retainer from its holding portion at a point beyond the periphery ofthe cover, andconsequently the o way interfering .withV the eakwi'ecy the outward movement of theV Asa Vdeformed portion of the retainer may be lloare applied in another manner. In this construction, a single retainer is employed, which, however, has the' two ends thereof secured to the container body, as indicated at Q5 and 26. This retaining member is provided with bends 27 and 28 adjacentto the parts'25 and 26 respectively, these bends causing the metal `of the retaining member toV extend across the outer edge or flange 14 of the cover. Each of the two bends of the retaining member is provided at 29 with deformed or weak'- ened portions which may also be inthe form of upright grooves in the retaining member, and which are arranged so as to lie outwardly beyond the outer edge of the cover B. The retaining member is bent to form a handle portion 30, the nature ofthe bends being immaterial, those jshown being such that this portion of the retaining member lies within the depressed portionslightly raised out of Contact with the coverso as to render the han.- dle` portion 30 more readily accessible. 4 In breaking the retaining member shown in these views, the handle 30 is liftedfor moved away from the cover B, this movement of the retaining member being indicatedby broken lines in Fig. 6. thus subjecting the weakened portions 29 of the retaining member totortional strains, which result in a ready breaking of the retaining member at the weakened portions 29, so that the cover B can be easily removed. D

In this embodiment offthe inventiomthe upright grooves which result in? the weal'euing of a retainer at 29, preferably extend in the same direction described' in Vconnection with Figs. 1 to 4. The deformed portions of the retainer, therefore` offer practically the same resistance to breakage due to pressure exerted bv the cover thereon, as would an unweakened portion of the wire, sincethe pressure by the cover is 'exerted in the direction 'of the largest dimension ofthe weakened portion. When, however, the handle 30 of theretainer is raised, the weakened portions of the metal are subjected to torsional or twisting strains, at a leverage many time greater than that at which the flange of the cover can act upon the retaining memberpsolthatl a'ready breaking of the metal at the weakened portion results.V l

In both of the constructions illustrated, the depression 15 of the cover is utilized to L protect the lever or handle portion of each retainer `against, accidental; movement. It is not, however, necessary to" have/the covers provided with recessed portions, since the chances ofmovement ofthe' leversin` a direction necessary to break. the retaining'me'mbers are almost negligibleduring the ordinary handling orshippingofthe containers.

`In connection withthe` retainers shown in Figs. y.1 to 4, it will also be noted that the move ment vof the lever portions 20 directly outward-ly"L from the cover portion is'resistedllby the dongest dimension ofthe weakened por? f tion'of each retainer, so that it is very difficult to lremove this typeof retainer, unless the lever portions QOare-moved parallel to -the cover, as indicated in Fig. 4, thus furtherlrel ducingt'he chance of accidental breaking-bf these retainers.A In both 'oftheconstructions illustrated, only aivery .slight notching or groovingrof the retaining members isne'es` sary to produce a Vdeformed portion therein, thezmain .object fof the deformed portion or portions being to insure the breaking'zofl the retaihingmembers at points, outwardlybeyond the outer edge of the cover.

Retainers embodyingthis invention may be applied to various'types of containers,such as sheetmetal cans, kegs, drums or barrels. The expression cover, as herein used, is intended to apply to any form of closure for the receptacle. When it is desired to use retain` ers of this kind with cans or smallcontaifners,

it is possible to secure the c over and the retaining means to the can 'bodies at the factory, the bottoms ofthe containers being-rap# plied after the cans are filled. If desired, theret-.aining means maybe welded or otherwise appliedfto the container body afterthe container is filled. 1 i f Claims: f

1. A' retainerforhold'ing two parts against relative movement 'in one direction, said`re4 tainer being secured to onegof said parts'an'd overlying the other part to prevent such movementa portion of said retainer not overlying said other part, being of modified cross sec'- tion, said modified cross section including a reduction thickness in` a direction other than that of the movement of said parts relatively toeach other to permit afportion ofsaid retainer-to be moved in said other direction at will to -sever said retainer at said reduced por-v tionto permit said: relative movement.` 2. A' retainer for holding two partslag'ainst relative `movement in one direction, "said retainer being secured to` one of said-parts vin close proximity to said otherpart and having a weakened portion adjacent to said secured portion of theretainer, and an arm extending over said other part andengaging theledge of said other part adj acent to the secured por- Y said'weakenedportion. i.

f 3. A fretainerfor holding a' cover on the' said `retainer,said cross Section having ja tainer, including a portion secured tothe'c 0.n

' over the cover, said `connected by a deformed'portion, shaped to Y .body ofa metal receptacle, includinga metal i member `having onepart rigidly secured to the receptacleand `another part extending yparts being integral Vand directionof movement ofthe coverA from the receptacle than in another direction,"whereby the -retainer may be readily broken to permit offer greater resistance toY breakage in the removal of the cover.

4. A retainer for holding a cover ony a con-V tainer f and a portion' immediately adjacent Vthereto-engaging,apart,of said cover, and a free end .extendingvbeyond said last men*- Ationed part, saidl freeend being movable to Y place said lastinentioned part outof engagement lwith Asaidl cover, the resistance to ymoveleverage.

mentof vsaid lastmentioned part being overcome vby the leverage alforded by said free end andsaid cover acting on vsaid lastmentioned part Without the advantageof said ,-5. A retainer for'holding a cover on a receptacle, said retainer including a part secured .to said receptacle, apart adjacent thereto eni gagingsaid cover to -hold the samey in place,

including a vweakened portion adjacentl the part secured to said receptacle, and a lever portion extending beyondsaid part to facilitate removal of said last mentioned'part outl 0f holding engagement With breaking at said weakened par 6, Ajretainer for holding a cover on a recepf tacle,said retainer` including a part secured said cover vby centthereto engaging said cover and connected with said first mentioned portion by adeformed portion, said deformed portion being of a cross Vsection offering greater resistance to flexing ina direction in which the cover is removed from said container than in a direction atan-angle thereto, Wherebysaid cover engaging portion can Ybe .more readily moved out; of engagement With said cover at Will than `by said cover...

8.1A retainer for .holding a closure on a receptaclasaid retainer beingggin .the'forni 0f ametal rod .havingsa portion thereof sef curedtolthe receptacle anda part immediately Vadjacent theretoengaging said closure, said parts being integrally connected by a `portion of diierentcross section than other parts of '1 9. A retainer for holding a 4closureionrila Y receptacle, `said retainer including a portionk secured to said receptacle, anda portion ad-V f l jacent theretoengaging said closure, said-retainer being-ofsubstantially uniform cross section Yexcept at a portion connectingsaid two parts, which portion is deformed. to facilitate-breaking of the retainer `at vsuch portion, and a lever extension forming apart VofV said retainer to permit brea retainer at Willat said portion. Vj'

10. A retainer 'for holding a closure on a receptacle, said retainerincluding a 4portion secured to said receptacle, and a portionad .jacent thereto. engaging Vsaid closure, {said retainer being of substantially uniform cross feo section except at a portionfconnectingtsaid two parts, iWhich portion has al no tcliextend-fV ing substantiallyV in fthe direction finZWIiich said closure is removed -from'said receptacle, to facilitate flexing of saidpaits relatively to each i other V"to 'Y permit removal of' said closure..`

'1l'.v The combination Va vVsheetfinetal container having aeoverprovided with a depressed portion therein-,fof aretainer having one end thereof secured to the' container and having ja portion'- immediately adjacent theretol extending over'the edge of the cover place on thev container,-

to hold thefsame in and khaving the-otherfend ofsaidretainer arranged in Asaid depressedy portion, said retainer having a weakened portion nearthe end thereof secured to said container: and

'Y beyond the lperiph-ery of said cover, at Which Vthe retainer `may be Vbroken-by swing-ing the end thereof arranged in said depressed por# tion about the secured end ofthe retainer.

12. A retainerffor holding twor adjacent partsfagainst relative movement in-one di#V rection, a portion of said retainer being atjtached to one of said Vparts at a-point adjae 4cent to the otherpartrand having a free end iis extending across said other part to prevent such relative movement in saidone. direction, said retainer having'adjacentto its attached portion a sectionof greater dimension-in said one direction thanin a direction atriglit angles thereto to afford a maximum resistance to flexure in said one direction, retainer may be brokenat said vsection by moving the free end thereof in a; direction approximately lat right angles to 'said direction of relative movementof'said parts. f .i

.13. -A retainer for holdingtwo adjacent parts against relative movement Vin 'onet di-l rection, a portion of said retainer being attached to one of said-parts at afpoint adja- Cent to the other part andextending across whereby said imi BURROWS MOREY. l 

